El Camino de Thomas: Welcome!

El Camino de Thomas

This blog is about my planning, preparation, and completion of El Camino de Santiago de Compostela. El Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is a major Catholic pilgrimage. In September of 2009, I plan on taking Camino Frances which will take me about 800km on foot from St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

In the last few years, three of my friends have lost their battles with depression. My Camino is in fond remembrance of them. Not only is this journey for personal reasons, but it's also to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention. Please visit First Giving to make a secure and tax-deductible donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Each dollar given will not only go towards research and prevention, but will serve to encourage me upon what will certainly prove to be a trying journey.

It doesn't matter how much or how little you give, just that you do. By giving anything, even $1.00, you're not only showing support for me on my trip, but helping a very worthwhile cause.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Welcome!

Welcome to my first post about my upcoming journey. For those of you who don't know, El Camino de Santiago de Compostela is one of the three main Catholic pilgrimages, the others being to Rome and to Jerusalem. One of the most common routes is Camino Frances from St.-Jeans-Pied-du-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela. This is the route I plan on taking next September.

Why have I chosen to do this? I've kind of been in a fuzz the last year: emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. I hope that spending a little more than a month hiking and meditating a historic trail in the footsteps of St. James will help me find what I'm looking for, even if I don't know what that is right now.

I think the hardest part right now will be training for the physical hardship of completing the trip. I'll have to carry almost everything I need for the trip, so I'm going to try to keep it under 30lbs. Today was my first El-Camino-modified workout. Instead of my usual 30-40 hard minutes on my ergometer or on my stationary bike, I did a much slower pace for a little more than an hour and a half.

Keep reading for more updates on my training, planning, and updates on things I'm having to buy (ugh).

Labels: el camino, santiago de compostela

5 Comments:

At January 20, 2009 at 10:50 AM , Cop's Wife said...: This is fantastic! I had no idea you were going to do this. I am envious.
I'd love to do something like this someday. A month with myself to figure out who I am.
Think anyone would notice if I disappeared for a month?
(this is smanley, BTW)
At January 28, 2009 at 1:25 PM , Sil said...: Tohams, 30lbs is TOOOOOoooooo.... much to carry on the camino. Try to carry half that.
At January 28, 2009 at 1:27 PM , Tohams said...: Thanks, Amawalker...after getting a new backpack, it's not going to hold more than 20 lbs unless I fill it with bricks. So I should be good to go with 15-20 pounds at the most. :)
At February 25, 2009 at 4:58 PM , DG said...: Thomas, I agree with Sil (Amawalker). 30 lbs is way too much & 20 is probably pushing it. Leave room to carry food for breakfast, lunch & sometimes dinner, as well as water & other beverages. Buen Camino!!
At February 25, 2009 at 5:49 PM , Tohams said...: Yeah, after more study into the subject, I'll be going with about 15 lbs. :)

El Camino de Thomas

Friday, December 26, 2008

Welcome!

5 Comments:

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